Bridging the gap

City looks to repair third pedestrian bridge

October 31, 2013

Reconstruction of the flood-damaged Victoria Pedestrian Bridge should go forward, a city committee voted Thursday.

The Minot City Council's Public Works and Safety Committee is recommending the council hire Moore Engineering to provide the engineering work for the project. Moore Engineering has handled the engineering work on the pedestrian bridge projects so far.

The city previously authorized repair of the Anne and First Avenue pedestrian bridges across the Souris River. A structural analysis was needed on the Victoria Pedestrian Bridge to determine whether the bridge can be repaired, and that analysis came back positive. The Victoria bridge was erected in 2004 as a pre-assembled structure anchored to a substructure built on site.

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A crane removes the Victoria Bridge July 1 to be analyzed for the extent and type of flood damage. Engineers now have determined that the bridge can be repaired.

The work to be done on the Victoria includes replacing the south abutment, structural work and repairs on the bridge, placement of the bridge back into its original position and addition of fill, fabric and riprap on the south abutment. About 120 square feet of walk replacement will be needed on the south side.

The design and engineering work will be done over the winter, with construction next summer. The project is eligible for reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Once repaired, the Victoria bridge will be re-opened, said Stephanie Frizzo, Minot traffic engineer.

Although the nearby Anne bridge largely has been repaired, it technically is closed to pedestrians. To reopen the bridge, the city would have to make improvements so the historic bridge meets federal standards as an urban pedestrian bridge. The city is seeking funding to be able to make the improvements. The bridge, built sometime between 1900 and 1915, has a long span, extending across the Souris River and railroad.

The First Avenue bridge at First Avenue Northeast is a 110-foot steel stringer bridge built in 1935.

Frizzo said there are minor details in the repair of both the Anne and First Avenue bridges that need to be finalized before those construction projects can be closed out. Those tasks are to be completed this fall.